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KMS 8th grader keeps his
eye on the ball ... and the future

By: Nathan Scherotter

Feb 17, 2007

Many people believe the way a
student performs in middle school
foreshadows success or failure later
in life. If this is true, Kyrene
Middle School eighth-grader
Thomas Lawson is looking ahead
to a very successful life.

Thomas, a six-foot, 180-pounder,
enjoys accomplishments on the
playing field and in the classroom.

Thomas is a three-sport athlete and
is determined to keep up his grades.
He participates in wrestling,
baseball and football, and excels in
all three.

“Thomas has always liked sports,”
Thomas’ dad John Lawson said.
“He started playing at an early age
and he developed an interest. He’s a
very hard worker when he is
interested in something, and he is
very interested in sports.”

Thomas’ abilities are easily seen by
the results he produces. He recently
won the state wrestling tournament
in the 180-pound weight class, a
goal he has been working toward for
many years.

“It was really exciting,” Thomas
said.

“It felt like everything I was
working for was accomplished.”

The victory was extra sweet,
considering Thomas was unable to
compete the past two years.

“I’ve had to injuries the past two
state tournaments,” Lawson said. “It
was great to finally get a chance to
showcase what I’ve working on.”

Lawson dominated his final match,
throwing his opponent to the mat
multiple times until the third
period, when his knee gave out. He
was taken down but able to reverse
his opponent’s move to win easily.

“Besides winning the state
tournament, Thomas has played some
really good club baseball teams and
faired quite well,” John said.

“His baseball team, the Arizona
Giants, has won tournaments (he also
played with the Arizona Cobras), and
he wrestled with people from all
over the southwest in a tournament.
He won that tournament, where the
competition was even harder than in
state.”

But while his achievements on the
wrestling mat are amazing, his true
passion lies in baseball.

“I got into baseball just from
playing in Little League and growing
from there,” Thomas said.

Thomas now is entering the baseball
season for the Kyrene Scorpions,
throwing the ball a remarkable
80-plus mph.

Thomas’ short term goals include
making it on varsity for his three
sports in his freshman year at
Marcos de Niza. He says that, if he
doesn’t achieve a career in sports,
he’ll attend medical school.

“He is getting really good grades,
which is his first priority,” John,
an engineer with the state highway
department, said.

“I want him to do something he
enjoys and has a passion for. I want
him to get a college degree and find
his niche. He’ll do well because he
is a hard worker and is motivated
and dedicated.”

All signs are pointing upward for
Thomas. For him, it is not a matter
of if but when another great
accomplishment will come his way.

“He is pretty young, but he has had
an outstanding year and is dedicated
to improving,” John said.